For those of you who don't know, I am a preacher of the Gospel of Christ. Furthermore, I preach with a congregation (notice the with) that is...small. Now, don't get me wrong we are larger than some congregations but by and large we are small in numbers, but does that really matter? Let's look at the first chapter of 1 Corinthians to see home helpful things to keep in mind as we live, work and walk amongst small groups of the Lord's people.

We Are Not Alone

"To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who in every place scall on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" - 1 Cor. 1:2

That's right, Paul said "with all who in EVERY PLACE..." I'm not sure about you, but that is encouraging to me! Throughout my ministry as a preacher I have had the privilege of visiting other places in the Southeast to meet, and even worship with, brethren from other areas. Throughout all of those meetings I have come to learn one thing, we aren't alone!

Sometimes brethren allow themselves to beat themselves up thinking that they are all alone, especially if they are the only congregation in their community, county or even larger region. But the wonderful thing is, we have brethren all over the world with the same mind seeking to follow the Christ and His teachings regardless of their location.

Now, how can that really help a small congregation? One word, "RESOURCES"! Never forget that we can call on brethren to help smaller congregations at times in order to fulfill the will of God. Have a meeting/revival coming up? - Call the local congregations and speak to the elders expressing your wish that they come and gather with you to encourage the small congregation in the area, what can it hurt?\

We Are Not "Almost There"

"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge," - 1 Cor. 1:4-5

Here's my favorite! Regardless of the size of a congregation, God's grace is much larger than the group will ever be! No Christian receives a smaller amount of the grace of God, especially not because of his location and membership of a congregation that has 2 or 2,000. After all, God isn't one to show partiality when it comes to race (Acts 10:34) so why would he be when it comes to the number of people in those races?

This might just be the hardest thing for brethren in smaller congregations to understand. I know I have thought it as well. "If we could just get ____ members we would be more pleasing to God." We may not say it in those words, but that's the meaning of our thoughts. But the great thing is the fact that a congregation is pleasing to God when they are following the commands of Christ (John 14:15) and heading the warnings of Him (Revelation 2:7).

"If we could just get _____ members we would be more pleasing to God."

We Are Not A Slave to the Preacher

"Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" - 1 Cor. 1:13

Jody Apple said, "I am not the means [alone] by which a congregation is going to be pleasing to God." It takes cooperation between the all the brethren at any local church to get the work done. Remember back at the beginning when I said that I preach with a small congregation? That's just it! We are in this together and therefore ought to work together in order to evangelize, worship and live in accordance with the Gospel. It is sometimes difficult for the preacher to realize that he doesn't have to do everything, I'm just now getting to actually figuring out that fact, but it's absolutely necessary.

Have a bunch of cards or flyers for an upcoming revival? Work together to pass them out. Have roles that need to be filled in order to make the congregation work effectively? Work together! Remember, we aren't alone in the world but we also aren't alone in the congregation.

We all have the same God, same grace, same brethren and same job. - So let's forget about the numbers on the board at the front of the auditorium or the black, or red, numbers on the bank statement and start thinking more about how to effectively work together in order to get the Gospel to the entire area (P.S. - Small churches, in my opinion, ought to focus on their area instead of others. We've got a lot of work to do right here.) and save those lost souls!

Hearing produces faith (Romans 10:17). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Repentance, a decision made within the mind to change the direction of your life, is required for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Confessing with the mouth leads to salvation (Romans 10:10). And the culmination of all these actions occurs when one is baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3, 4). It is at this point that a person puts on Christ (Galatians 3:27). It is at this point that a person’s sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). It is at this point that a person is saved (Mark 16:16). It is at this point that a person has access to all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). Yet, after this point, it is still possible for a person to sin (1 John 1:8). Even so, it is possible for a person to so sin as to be lost eternally (1 John 5:16; 2 Peter 2:20-22). With this fact in mind, it is often the case that Christians find themselves “walking on eggshells” in fear of so sinning. Furthermore, they will sin, and then become discouraged, begin to doubt their salvation, forgetting the power of the blood of Christ, and live in misery, wondering why such misery can be found in those that are to be most happy of all. Dear friends and brethren, such doubt should not be found in a Christian, for we have blessed assurance! There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1a). Will you consider with me the power preserved in this pithy passage?

NOW

In the King James Version, the third word is a word found 1,236 other times in the same Bible, yet a word that cries out for further study at every mention. The word: therefore. What is therefore there for? Or for what is therefore there? Paul is concluding something. He has just been explaining the discouragement, heartache, and struggle that came with living under the old law (cf. Romans 7:5-25). Paul begins such a discussion with the phrase, for when we were in the flesh (Romans 7:5). Flesh was a symbolic term that Paul sometimes used to refer to the temporary old law (cf. Galatians 3:1-3). What was wrong with the old law, Paul? Nothing! The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12). It served exactly the purpose God intended for it (cf. Galatians 3:19-27). Then, what is the problem? With a paraphrase of Romans 7 and evident events in Paul’s life, consider what he might say:Me!I’m the problem; I have sinned! Let me explain. It’s the yearly Passover Feast. I have my beautiful young lamb. Many friends and family will be there.I take my lamb to the priest.I smell the burning flesh. I see blood all over the place.I tell him my sin, and just for a moment I hoped...I thought that maybe...but he said, “Remember, you’re still a sinner.”O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24). But now. There is therefore now. Can you try to picture Paul’s face as this was being written? I wonder if his eyes lit up with joy? Perhaps a smile came across his face and tears began to roll down his cheeks? Now. Paul was a man that knew what it was like to live under the old law and under the new law--the Gospel! Do we ever stop and thank God that we live now in the course of time?

NO CONDEMNATION

The original word here translated condemnation literally means “down judgment”. When we think of heaven, we think “up”. When we think of hell, we think “down”. To be condemned would mean that at the judgment, one would be going “down” to hell. However, we are talking about no condemnation. When a house is condemned, it is declared “unfit for use”. There is no life in that house. Likewise, there is no life in a condemned person. But in Christ, there is no condemnation, and His life is in you (c.f. Romans 6:3, 4; Galatians 2:20). Consider the end of the chapter in which our text of focus is found: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39). O, the blessed assurance of no condemnation! Who can separate me from the love of Christ? Only I can separate myself from the love of Christ. The Apostle Paul knew this, for he said, I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:27).

IN CHRIST

The phrase in Christ occurs some 77 times in the New Testament. In the Lord can be found some 111 times throughout the Bible. The Bible gives definite importance to one being in Christ. What is so great about one being in Christ? It is in Christ that the fulfillment of prophecies and eternal plans are found (Ephesians 1:10). It was in Christ that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished (Ephesians 3:11). It is in Christ that all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3).Think about the blessing of approaching our Father in prayer.Think about the blessing of forgiveness of sins.Think about the blessing of offering up spiritual sacrifices in spirit and truth on the first day of the week.Think about the blessing of walking in the light.If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). If we are walking in the Light, it is the same as saying we are walking in Christ! Sometimes we do not realize how saved we are! God is not like human beings in that He is not watching our every move with intentions of catching us in a fault. He does not want to condemn us! He wants to save us (1 Tim. 2:4)!Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:4-8). These latter words are quoted from a man that was in prison when he wrote them. They are quoted from a man that received 195 stripes from the Jews, had been stoned and left for dead, was beaten with rods on three occasions (no telling how many times they hit him), was shipwrecked on three different occasions (could you imagine being in the deep?). No one could stop a man like Paul because he had blessed assurance. It has been said that if you let Paul free, he would convert the world, if you put him in prison, he would write the Bible, and if you kill him, you will put him right where he wants to be--with Christ. He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.” There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1a).